On Thursday, Rep. Eric Cantor told Virginia's Richmond Times-Dispatch he is resigning his seat from the House of Representatives, effective August 18.
"I want to make sure that the constituents in the 7th District have a voice in what will be a very consequential lame-duck session," he told the newspaper. Cantor, who stepped down Thursday as House majority leader, also said that he asked Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) to call a special election that coincides with the Nov. 4 general election. The winner of that election would take office immediately and not have to wait until January to start with the next Congress.
In June, Cantor lost the Republican primary to Dave Brat, a Tea Party-backed candidate. He told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that he stands behind Brat, and "I hope he will win."